BUDGET 2013: Should the NBN escape budget scrutiny?

No it should not. The fact that $1b is allocated and committed to reach the “final 3%” of the population completely undermines the continuous refrain from the ALP that NBN is all about productivity and creating wealth. If it were about that then I would completely agree with it, as that can be achieved by wiring up 80% of the population for less than $10b using the NBN chosen technology. THAT’s where value will be created. After all we are the 2nd most urbanised country on the planet, so 80% reach is easy. What we HAVE is social policy de-facto human right to have a fast internet connection at huge cost to many alternative social programs including NDIS. And zero debate or review.

BUDGET 2013: Should the NBN escape budget scrutiny? | Business Spectator

Source: businessspectator.com.au

The missing link in paywall plans | Business Spectator

I think there is a lack of debate because it reflects the whole lack of debate and interest in the oligopolies that we’ve allowed to dominate every sector. We Australians are completely lame when it comes to competition - or the lack of it - because we’ve had so little for so long and think that it is the norm, and also because most lack ambition anyway. None of our oligopolies would have been allowed in the US, but our laughingly-named Consumer and Competition Commission has encouraged and sanctioned the narrowing of competition. We simply don’t care that 92% of capital city newspapers are owned by two groups and they are going to put all that behind firewalls. As always after the fact there will be some squealing, but no action. Yes very interesting to see how the commercial models play out and for example the effect on Google News (Australia Section). 

Businesses Take a Cautious Approach to Disclosures Using Social Media

See on Scoop.it - Predictive Analysis

This earnings season, some prominent companies are taking advantage of the S.E.C.’s new rules that allow the use of social media to disclose financial information, though others are proceeding slowly.

Walter Adamson’s insight:

In Austalia the ASX also requires social media monitoring and has issued a recent Compliance Note in this respect, which I analyse here http://www.kinshipdigital.com/asx-social-media-risk-continuous-disclosure#


See on dealbook.nytimes.com

From USB to Ubiquitous Computing

kenekaplan:

See on Scoop.it – Intel Free Press
image
Ajay Bhatt, the co-inventor of USB, is working to reinvent the PC. “We said let’s make a ubiquitous plug on a computer so that any device that’s plugged in just starts working.
See on www.intelfreepress.com

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This is a big deal, I think, given that after taking control of the architecture of the PC with the PCI bus the promotion and control of the USB was Intel’s next big architectual coup. That had a huge impact, perhaps this will also. Likely!

When the SBR regime was first designed, Treasury expected it to benefit 2.1 million businesses, 100,000 accountants and 26,000 tax agents. The system was expected to reach 60 per cent of target businesses by 2013-14.

…

“It is our understanding that no company has ever lodged their financial report using this technology,” the Institute of Chartered Accountants says in its pre-budget submission.

“In our experience, organisations have been reluctant to explore this new technology, due to their view that costs of adoption will exceed any benefits gained through lower compliance costs.”

Businesses shun Australian Government SBR reporting software

Source: afr.com